I spoke with the indefatigable founder of NYEW, Gary Whitehill. “Entrepreneurs are not the 1% or the 99% –we are passionate job creators, risk takers and innovators. “So we’re not just walking for ourselves, we’re walking to remind America that entrepreneurship is the foundation of this country, and what will ultimately bring us together and save our economy. My passion for entrepreneurship is the same that gets every business owner out of bed every morning –it’s making a difference in our communities, in business and for our employees.

But what I’m ever more excited about is this year, NYEW will launch Entrepreneur Walk, the first ever charity walk to celebrate the entrepreneur. It’s all happening on on Wednesday, April 18 at 5pm, which I’m hosting. It’s going to be AMAZING and you won’t want to miss it. Entrepreneur Walk is designed to unite business owners beyond the boardroom, the storefront, the laptop or the factory floor and take entrepreneurship to the streets –Wall Street, Main Street, Pennsylvania Ave. We need to show them that WE ARE THE AMERICAN DREAM. I’m walking for that dream and for entrepreneurs everywhere. I need you to walk with us and support that Dream. So go ahead and register: www.entrepreneurweek.net. You will have an incredible time.

I truly believe the time has come to show a more accurate picture of entrepreneurship. This Walk
will give business owners like you, your employees and all supporters of the American Dream, the chance to be unified and be counted as the real job creators of the US economy.

What I really like is that each participating “walker” will be underwritten by Entrepreneur Week’s lead sponsors, like American Airlines, Bing, Dell, Silicon Valley Bank, Singularity University—so the more walkers we get, the more donations we’ll be able to bring to the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs. All profits from the walk will be equally distributed between New York Tech Meetup, Enstitute and HackNY -three outstanding NYC organizations that support entrepreneurship.

In case you didn’t know, according to the SBA, small businesses with less than 100 employees represent 99% of all employers and create between 60-80% of new jobs in the US. In New York State, small business payrolls total $120.6 billion or 28% of the state’s total payroll.

To register for NYEW or Entrepreneur Walk visit: www.entrepreneurweek.net.

Once I figured out the formula, I became dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners by creating a safe passage for those following in my footsteps.

My journey to mentorship began when I started hosting the Mind to Market Weekend, a community for creative minds. In this unique community individuals with ideas could come to learn and work alongside me and other key executives.  Here I gave one of the most important and fundamental lessons for any entrepreneur: The ability to differentiate between a good idea and a great idea!

Nothing was more rewarding than being able to witness these motivated individuals thrive in the world of business. Since then I’ve been given amazing opportunities to share my stories and lessons with the world, but I never stop teaching this knowledge.

I Have An Idea!

If you have an idea, how do you know if it is good or great? Most ideas are average, but many ideas are not strong enough to advance beyond that. In order for an idea to go from good to great, there is a lot of work to be done.

In the beginning, research and gather as much information and data concerning the topic as you can. This will give you valuable knowledge on how to most effectively embark on your journey and be on the path to success. Although your research should be ongoing, you must identify the category that your idea fits best in after you have completed the bulk of your research.

Do not make the common mistake of creating your own category. Investors, buyers, vendors, future employees and executives will follow natural human behavior, so choose an existing category that is most closely associated with your idea. Remember, the more you are able to predict the reaction in association with your idea, the better your chances are of getting the idea off the ground and starting a business successfully.

A lot of people have ideas, but those who execute their ideas with effective strategies are the ones who become successful entrepreneurs and small business owners. The rest are just making noise.

Here are some good books I recommend that you read on the topic of a good idea versus a great idea. They are amazing tools that can be used to help harness your concept and has helped me more times than I can count:

1. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
2. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
3. Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin

The books below will aid you in pin-pointing an idea:

1. The Riddle: Where Ideas Come From and How to Have Better Ones by Andrew Razeghi
2. How They Started, Global Brands Edition: How 21 Good Ideas Became Great Global Businesses by David Lester

Thanks for reading this post on how to turn your business idea from good to great! Please share with your friends if you enjoyed this post.

If you know me, you know that I love business and in particular, small business. If you know me better, you know that I am averse about politics and it concerns me deeply that business and politics are increasingly being intertwined. Among other things, I fundamentally oppose the idea that government should be picking winners and losers in any arena, but most especially in business. Why should they have the power to place regulations on business when most of the members in the administration have little or no business experience?

I am honored to sit on many of these business panels, but please keep in mind where my passion rests. I’m “pro” small business!  I believe that everyone has the right to start a company and fulfill their dream to be an entrepreneur. I believe that you have the right to earn and keep the money for taking the risk to start a business and tackle the issue of how to create jobs for our country. This also goes for those who are working in corporate America and are willing to work hard for a promotion or advancement. A person is not “evil” for wanting more money when they take on more responsibility to earn it respectfully.

There is something to be said about the business person or entrepreneur that dives into uncharted waters. They invest all that they have and push themselves to their limit into running a business that sticks. By creating something that not only sticks, but turns a profit and provides jobs, should be highly regarded.

Does the individual who sweats and sacrifices the most always win? NO!  I wish that were not the case, but we all know that good businesses and good people can go under. However, most who get knocked down almost always get back up. While it may be difficult to get back on their feet, it proves a lot about who they are and I admire them immensely for it.

This is why it sends me over the edge when I read headlines about a certain company or industry being forced into regulations. It scares me to think that the government can affect this immense process of building a company which ultimately, creates jobs.

The ability to go through the process of creating a business and overseeing it from concept to creation is the essence of American entrepreneurship. When someone takes away or alters this ability, there are a boat load of unintended consequences at stake.

As a community, we must not let headlines turn us against each other. More importantly, we cannot let headlines create resentment for local business owners who are trying to improve the community while facing bigger competitors. We have to remember that it is the love of the community that maintains stability.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Please leave comments below and share this with your friends!

My passion is small business and I’m a turn around expert here to help you. If you are interested in business consulting opportunities, please click here.

Yes, it’s been a tough year for most of us. However, we know that we must gather our strength, dig deep and press on as we look towards the future ahead of us.  Remember, the fourth quarter is our last quarter mile and not only are we trying to end the year without losing our shirts, but we MUST prepare for what I believe is going to be a treacherous first quarter.

How, you ask? This seems to be the question that I get most often.

Like you, I am a proud business owner. I consider it an honor and privilege to be a leader in my team’s lives because they are my greatest asset. My team members choose to believe in me, lend me their amazing talents to help me build my brand, and are the backbone to my success. As a leader, I must constantly think in terms of how to motivate my team and nothing upsets me more than having to push my team harder than what is possible. We are up against insurmountable odds as a team and this, again, leads me to the question: how?

As the financial markets recently collapsed, the bottom percent of Americans fell out of the housing market. In the mist of this disorder, those in charge of our country have completely lost touch with small business owners and other hardworking Americans facing REAL day to day challenges. Trust me when I say that most people are not glued to status of the stock market; they are obsessing over how much money is actually coming in and how much quickly goes out. At that time, my business instincts told me that we were all in for the hardest years in our lifetime.  I asked myself, “How am I supposed to lead the very people that I care for when I know that the road that lies ahead is painful and heartbreaking?”.

These days, I catch myself spending much of my time thinking and attempting to answer the questions that I can’t seem to shake off.  I asked myself, “How am I supposed to lead the very people that I care for when I know that the road that lies ahead is painful and heartbreaking?”.

I remember the feelings, desires, and passions that led me to become an entrepreneur and business owner. Fortunately for me, all those feelings and passions are still very much alive. I am passionate about small businesses and their effect on communities all over this great country. I love the people; the hardworking people who invest everything into their work. These people are proud of the work that they do, and rightfully so, for everyone around them are better for the effort they put in.

I enjoy creating products and services that help people become more efficient. I love watching my team work hard to hit their goals and celebrate their success. Does anyone have the right to take that passion away from me or worse yet, try and destroy it? Hell NO! It became very apparent to me that it was crucial that I streamline and focus my companies, teams, and goals to do one thing—to win! To be an entrepreneur, you must do whatever it takes to keep the spirit alive and strong.

So as I reconnected with the fighter within me, I knew that I also had the duty to re-awaken these passions in each and every person around me: friends, family, employees, vendors, distributors and customers. Each one of us needs to be re-inspired and re-committed to what we all stand to represent. We, as small business owners, ARE the American Dream! Using these thoughts, I started to gather a list to highlight and celebrate what makes us GREAT! I did this to empower those around me with the tools we are fortunate to have, but the government and large corporations do not.

We are nimble and quick.

We are bred for change and are capable of adapting fluidly.

We don’t have a narrow vision, so it allows us to hear and absorb more information that leads us to be stronger and more likely, successful.

We value and appreciate our team. We are not simple employee to each other, but rather, are each other’s friends, neighbors and family.

We are not afraid to speak up.

We are willing to push the boundaries and challenge rules.

We have perfected our instincts and have exercised our faith to help carry us through difficult situations.

Most of all, we know that true leadership is not about doing it for the money. We do this because we can and because we were born to do it. Money and financial security are the byproducts of hard work, sacrifice, and focus- these are things small business owners know all too well.

So, as you ponder how you are going to dig deep and lead those around you, ask yourself these questions: What made you decide to become the leader? How does it make you feel now that others believe in you enough to entrust their survival to you?

A good leader is someone who can continually push themselves beyond their limits and be comfortable enough with their own venerability. Nothing empowers others more than watching strong leaders get up after taking a disastrous fall. By getting up, we win!

From the heart of one entrepreneur to another…together WE WILL! Please leave comments below and share this with your friends.

If you’re interested in more information about how I’ve lead the teams in my life to success – in both my home, and in every business I’ve built, check out my video training program, “Leadership by Design – 10 Ways to Create Championship Teams for Success in Every Area of Your Life” here.

The Ideal 2012 Presidential Candidate

We need a new President to come into office, and grab a hold of the policy reigns that have gone out of control under Obama.  We need a new president to overturn or abolish many of the policies, implemented by Obama, that have nearly strangled the growth of America.  Just one example I’m referring to is Obamacare.  Obamacare is one of the most UNREAD and absolute worst laws passed in the darkness. As we are slowly coming to find out, this policy, which was supposed to be cost neutral, is now going to cost roughly a trillion dollars, further increasing our debt once again.  Obamacare has shown to more be more costly not just per month, but even further trying to administer it. There is so much wrong in Obamacare, I would have to write a book not a blog.   If we don’t elect a new president that will abolish this, America will turn into Greece in no time.  Remember, don’t think it can’t happen here; they didn’t believe they would be in the mess that they are in today either. This is often where Americans get off track with the “ can’t happen to us” mentality. We thought 911 couldn’t happen here either. These things can and will unless we all focus on the end game.

The focus, across the board, needs to be on the ultimate goal; none of us can handle another 4 years of policies, and rules and regulations that seem to be random, at will, and often not even read or understood by those defending them. The thought of “pass it and then we will understand what’s in it” doesn’t work for me or any business I am involved with, and it sure doesn’t work for me with our administration.

I am not, by any means, suggesting that anyone currently running is a homerun. They are not!  I have issues with each of the candidates, but guess what, that’s our choices. Do I like that I do not have another choice? No I do not!  However, I still have to step back and choose who will best service the needs of this country right now. That means I need to identify the top 3 things that are important to me and my business (employees & communities I live in). For me, it’s providing the tools and resources to get small business back into the communities. This is what provides the glue to hold & grow our communities. This allows the small businesses to build jobs, invest in the people within the communities, influence better home values, and bring back some certainty and security to Americans. Our tax systems, both business and personal, are far too complicated, and it doesn’t need to be.  Our tax system should not divide us as a country. Those who can afford skill and talent to find loopholes and those who are just trying to spend less time and money. It should be easy and clear to eliminate all these crazy loopholes. In order for people and small businesses to rebuild innovation, build new and expand business, we need access to capital. Again everyone, not a select few. The small community banks were a staple in the community that people relied on to help them better their lives and businesses. I agree that far too many took advantage of programs that allowed them to live beyond our means, and I don’t recommend that to anyone. But not allowing access keeps our communities stuck, and the land of limbo is the worst place to be. In order to begin achieving these goals, we need to stand behind the candidates that actually have a shot at winning.  Truth be told, as much as I like Ron Paul (not 100% but don’t like anyone 100%) Ron has no shot at winning the nomination. Further, even if he did, he doesn’t have what’s needed to beat Obama, who will be a FORCE in this next election. I relate to many in his base and am grateful for Ron Paul bringing forth great conversation on domestic issues regarding freedom of our rights and running government under the guide of the Constitution. However, his faults are on foreign policies and global issues, which have put him out of the race to most in the general public. Historically we know that dissatisfaction on those issues will have a greater influence as we get down to the wire. Yes Ron Paul has some of the %, but so much of this is math, so lets not get locked down in the details, or swayed by who we like (I like him). It’s about who can actually WIN, head-to-head, against Obama who, in my opinion, is the best orator, campaigner, fund raiser I have ever witnessed. If that’s what we needed in the country right now he would have my vote… but it’s not. We need small business jobs and a clear executable plan that allows us all to work together to rebuild our country. From top to bottom and everywhere in between, we all have work to do. We got in this mess together so we need to get out together.

Again, if the end game is of a higher purpose than who I like, who you like, since who we like doesn’t mount to a hill of beans if they can’t make it to the white house, then the ‘right-now’ is incredibly critical. This is why it’s in all of our best interest to stand behind and influence a candidate who does have a chance, and can win. The conversation and question has to move from ‘who do I like?’ to ‘who can go the distance?’

Further, ‘Will that person, once they get there, take the steps toward what the country needs NOW?’ Trust me, I already know (and so do you) that, whoever wins will not do everything we want. But, will they do the key things necessary to get people back to work, birth more innovation and business here?  Will they bring money back into this country instead of it sitting outside our borders? The premise of business, big or small, is to make money. If they didn’t make money, then no one would have a place to work, and all companies would be broke. So a business is going to do the math to make money. Keeping money out of the US is cheaper than bringing it home, pure and simple. We have a long list of things the USA needs, but we can’t tackle it all at once. Just like in life, if you try too do to many things at once you end up not doing any of them and getting nowhere. Ask yourself, “What candidate will get into office and start really doing whats needed to bring jobs back, empower people to innovate, build new business, grow existing business and pull the off shore money back into our marketplace?”

What Does the Future Hold For the U.S. Economy?

If Obama stays…

1. The transformation downward spiral that Obama sparked will pick up speed, and quickly.
2. Fiscal responsibility will continue to go out the window. When we lose that, we lose our foothold to do most of the things we need to rebuild the country. Just like we need good credit, capital, and leverage to do the things we want… so does a country.
3. The tax code will continue to stay complicated (worse I’m sure) and with unclosed loopholes that cost us far too much as a country. It becomes a key obstacle to getting us back on track.
4. Stop all the multi layer of agency upon agency, rules and regulations for about darn everything. It stops growth; it adds numerous layers of cost to almost every product and service.  We can’t afford high living cost when unemployment is high and average wages are low. We are a smart America; we don’t need to be so micro-managed to the point where we forget how to think, create, and innovate. BIG government wants to think for you. BIG government thinks it knows what’s best for you more than you know what’s best for yourself. Once BIG government gets too big, it takes decades to undo. Lets keep our choice in our hands, not theirs.  Didn’t you hate being told what to do growing up? I did and still do.

At the end of the day, I am a businesswoman who is blessed to live in this country and own a company. It also comes with huge responsibilities, all of which I signed up for. I am committed to my teams, my company, and my communities just as I am committed to my children, family, and friends. Together each of these groups come together to determine what we can do, to work together to have a life that we can feel good about, know we can provide for, and know we are part of something (family community and country) that we are proud of. Is it perfect? No, but I have found that nothing is perfect.

I consider myself an independent and have for a number of years. I realize we need voices from the left and voices from the right, but at the end of the day we need to be able to sit across from one another have a clear conversation and come to a compromise. I have always and still do love my neighbor and I don’t require my neighbor to be “like me” in order for me to like and accept them. I thrive on the differences among us and love to learn from others. That doesn’t mean I think I need to pay my neighbors’ bills for them. Just like I would not impose my views or values on them either. What I know is that when a neighbor needs help, I am the first one to go over and lend a hand and pitch in because I believe in the butterfly effect. We all win or we all fail!  But there is a difference between a leg and a handout and in my experience traveling all over this great country and working with businesses in the communities, people are not asking for a handout… just a leg up to rebuild their lives and learn from our mistakes. At the core I think we are the same. We love our families and children and want them to be safe. We want to either start and build a company or have a good job that we can feel good about and be a part of something that provides for our families and us. We want to embrace our country and want our country to embrace us back, not micro-manage our lives.

Right now, our choices and our voices are critical to the future of America. We need to stand up, speak out, and be heard.  From one girl, who is just trying to do the best I can, to another who is doing just the same.

Be sure to tune in to Fox Business beginning at 6pm ET with Neil Cavuto covering the entire South Carolina Primary from beginning to end. I’ll be making an appearance on the show! Follow me on Twitter for up to date news and headlines throughout the day!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amilya

Unfortunately, I believe small businesses are caught in the “perfect storm” of these issues. Meaning that we currently have people in power that lack experience and understanding of what a small business actually requires and involves. Do they really understand the perspective of the small business owner or how big companies continue to really affect their businesses? There are other things to consider, such as the rules and regulations changes, the revamping of the financial industry and further variables that contribute to a long, long list.

It’s naïve to believe that one key issue is to blame for the high unemployment rate. The very people who believe that it’s as simple as fixing a single problem, also seem to believe that business owners need to jump in and start hiring. It’s amazing to me to hear of folks speaking about what business owners “need” to be doing, when in reality, they’ve never owned a business or done it themselves.

These people have to understand the differences in business structures and the struggles that small businesses undergo to produce results. When small businesses make the decision to hire, they must look at many factors. The small business owner must take into consideration the risks of hiring a new employee, such as a dynamic shift in the environment, learning curves, and the lower margin of immediate cost to return. These circumstances cannot be lumped into one issue that can be easily fixed. I wish it were that simple, but my experience in business has shown me that throwing anything against the wall to see whether it sticks is a counteractive  plan for digging our way out of anything.

As a long time business owner, I would really like to see a well thought out plan that is vetted by real small business owners. A plan that will provide the results needed to get the legs back under small businesses, the stepping stones to move forward and the momentum to keep going. This is what I will continue to strive towards as the Small Business Voice for Fox Business each and every day!

Today some of the world’s most popular websites, including Wikipedia, Reddit, Google, and WordPress, “went dark” to protest the legislation of the SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) & PIPA (PROTECT IP Act).

The intent of these rules is to prevent piracy of American music, movies and other intellectual property by computer users in the US and abroad.   However, many large and reputable Internet companies fear that the proposed law creates a powerful censorship tool that could threaten American’s freedom of speech and stifle competition, killing the economic engine that fuels the Internet.

The future of the legislation is uncertain, with many congressmen switching their positions.  President Obama has even threatened to veto the bill.  It would be a good idea to take five minutes today and learn about what you can do to make your voice heard.

Even a politically charged event like the Blackout Protest has a business lesson that we can all learn from.  Always remember: Communication is key to your leadership approach.  Many of the companies participating in today’s events agree that the government must do more to curb copyright infringement.   But the companies and the government are not on the same page, and it is unlikely that Congress’ strategy is even enforceable without the help of these industry leaders.  Remember: there is no hope for success if you are not talking to your team members about defining and achieving your goals.

What’s your opinion on these pieces of legislation? What about the Blackout Protests? Please leave comments below and share this with your friends.

If you’re in the business world no one needs to tell you how “challenging” last year was, but there is little time to lick any wounds. Now, first quarter 2012 the decisions, focus, and work done or not done “RIGHT NOW” could easily be what gets you to a tipping point or closes your doors within the next 24 months.

Speaking as the Small Business Voice for Fox News, a serial entrepreneur and “Turn Around Specialist” with robust experience as a CEO and/or Founder of several companies in a vast array of industries I can identify, be angered, and commiserate with all the obstacles standing before us, both professionally and personally.

The absurdity of many of the decisions made by our government, financial institutions, and appointed industry groups have dropped a bomb in our laps as we struggle to understand and then defuse the effects it will have on the business we have sacrificed so much to build.

Unfortunately, it would be nothing but wasted time and energy to speak of what’s going on “out there” — that is far beyond our control. However, what we can control has a far greater impact on how this story will end, for many business owners and entrepreneurs.

Like many of you, I opted out of much of the holiday “time-off” that in years past was dedicated to family, friends and a chance to step out and recharge. Instead my internal voice and keen instincts have been on high alert so I spent the last few months gathering some of the best minds in business, along with industry experts, and repeatedly successful entrepreneurs to siphon their brains for wisdom, knowledge and what their instincts are telling them and what they are implementing in their own businesses.

Team Amilya has jumped in and are working to categorize and log the information so that we can be a better resource for small businesses. We are also taking REAL life information on what I and other Small Business CEO’s are doing in their lives and business NOW!

We’re getting ready to go one step further-bringing the information to you.

If you’re an entrepreneur or business owner we believe you might be in the right place so let us serve you, so answer me this:

1. What’s in your way or holding you back?

2. What tools can we create for you?

3. What questions can I answer for you?

I encourage you to subscribe to Amilya.com and immediately receive my FREE report “10 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Went Into Business”. Check out some of the articles, blogs and NEW products and tools I’ve made available. Then share share share! I read every post, comment and question!

We have also been thrilled with the feedback from Facebook, Twitter, Fox News and Fox Business and feedback the Amilya.com.

The ONLY way out of this mess is together. There’s no question we have to put in what you want to take out. Share your thoughts (likes and dislikes) how you’re feeling and what you NEED! I will do everything in my power to find REAL answers from inside the trenches not Hocus-Pocus Theories.

Together ANYTHING is possible… one step at a time.

From my desk to yours,

AMA

This is my brother’s third child (actually his beautiful, amazing wife gave birth three glorious times… my brother got the easier role). It has been a great week for me to reflect on the magic of children and how important our roles are to them either as parents, grandparents, friends, aunts or uncles. Each and every choice can end up being a challenge, or a success… but you never know which.

From the business that I do on Fox News to the work I do as a mentor and a turn around specialist, in order for me to be on top of my game for my clients I need to be an expert in these fields. This requires a lot of reading and studying across many platforms on a wide range of topics.

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a female or if it’s because I’m a Mother to a toddler and a teen at the same time, but I’m often asked about the best gifts, toys, and activities for all age groups.  So when I recently ran across this article on Top 10 Tips for Toy Safety, I thought I’d share it and of course add my 2 cents to help whoever wanted to listen.

So here goes…

As parents we all believe that our kids are advanced and ahead of the curve. So we tend to buy gifts that according to the recommendations are for older than our children. I have a 4 year old and I look at products and toys that go from 3 to 6 or 7 years of age.  I always have to do a check and balance before I purchase because there is a reason (often greater than what’s at first glance) why the products are recommended for that age group.

Toys or products that are designed for an older child can frustrate or confuse younger children without us knowing the impact. It can leave a mark on self-esteem and self-image. I am no child psychologist but since most of the companies I have grown or worked with are family focused companies, kids in one form or another have been in and part of my primary world for 25 plus years.

What I can share for sure is that MOST, and I mean MOST of us buy toys and products, don’t take the time to learn about it ourselves, and don’t teach our kids how to properly use and care for the toys. C’mon… admit it, most of us give a gift, watch them open it and assume they will figure it out (often times faster than we can) but there are many reasons to get familiar with the toy or product first.

Plus… spending the showing our kids how to properly use a new toy is a GREAT opportunity for you (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc.) to bond with that child. It’s one of those VERY special moments in time that you will watch them look up to you for guidance knowledge and instruction.

Not teaching our kids how to properly use a toy can leads to injury. Pinched fingers, cuts and bruises and for some of us a nice lesson on how hair can get tangled in a propeller with no choice but to have a spontaneous Christmas haircut.

Here are a few of the tips. I hope that my 2 cents helps you to take another look at the toys you give your kids not only from a safety perspective, but also as an opportunity to spend time with them in this holiday season.

• Avoid toys with sharp points and edges.
• Put toys intended for older kids out of reach of babies and toddlers.
• Kids love to yank and pull apart toys, so choose sturdy toys that don’t have loose, moving parts that can easily come off.
• Buy age-appropriate toys. Read the label, and if it’s not recommended for children under a certain age, then don’t buy it for your baby.
• Search for toys that are washable or include the words non-toxic on the label, since so many toys end up in baby’s mouth.

Enjoy the rest of the article, Top 10 Tips for Toy Safety here and please feel free to share some of your similar experiences in the comments below or on my Facebook page.

For me, leadership is at home, at work, with friends or in the community.

Leadership doesn’t just happen overnight. You must lay the foundation for good leadership.

There are many practices I find useful when stepping into the role of a leader, but these are a few I would like to highlight through a personal and business example.

I repeat this quote religiously: “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.”

As a leader, this is critical not only to understand but to know how to implement it into our lives. Like most of us, I have skills and talents that allow me to do an abundance of tasks really well.

Often times, leaders start to think because I “can” do the task better than you do then, I “should” do it myself.

Two Leadership Skills

First, you need to allow people around you to strengthen their skills and to become better support for you.

Second, you should be hiring people who are smarter than you. You are your team.

Leading and Managing in your Personal Life:

I would say that I organize, clean and have better time management than most of the people I know and definitely better than anyone else in my household.  It would make sense that I lead these activities for those in my home.

However, this weakens everyone in my home because they now rely on me more and more and their skills become less and less. Since I am raising a teenager and a toddler, it’s critical for them to learn how to be GREAT at these skills. I do this by giving them projects to organize where they get to create the time lines, and then execute them. They learn leadership, teamwork, strategy, delegation, and complete jobs all in one.

Other leadership skills merely take practice.  I have a sign in my home that says: Perfect – Practice – Repeat. I am always looking to perfect a task to see if there is a “better way” to complete it. Skills become instinctual which is not always healthy. Practice changing and perfecting small tasks in areas in your life so you can do the same for the larger tasks.

Leading and Managing in Your Business Life:

In business, I find many similarities. If you lead your team to “bring you problems” then you are creating more work for yourself and teaching them to be dependent upon you which results in break downs if you’re not there.

I have created a sign that hangs on my door that says “No problems lie here without an answer” I created this because BEFORE anyone enters my office with a problem, I want them to take the time to think it through and present it to me with a solution. An answer they would give out if they were walking in my shoes.

I don’t necessarily choose the solution, but it allows my team to have a better understanding of the situation and a way for their involvement.

This process allows me to see where they have strengths, where they need improvement, and it almost always uncovers hidden talents and skills that I would have not otherwise noticed. Most importantly, it allows me to teach and mentor my team on why their solution might not cover all the critical areas involved in the problem.

When leading others, it’s crucial to know the “how” and “why” behind the decision I make. The more I can groom other leaders under me, the more the company runs WITH or WITHOUT my presence.

Another important skill in leadership is to learn to speak other people’s languages.  Most people learn and grow differently and as a leader it is your job to figure it out and not for them to figure out yours. Another favorite quote goes as, “If you’re so smart why can’t you learn to speak their language.”

I make sure I take the time to understand how each of the people in my life learn and what makes them feel safe, (you can’t grow if you don’t feel safe). With this, we set up boundaries and guidelines on how TOGETHER we will walk through learning and communicating as we grow.

For example, my son is very analytical and he likes to be presented with information and expectations until he has the time to digest or wrap his head around the task before we discuss it.  Then, he wants me to show it to him and demonstrate how I want it done.

My daughter on the other hand likes to dive in and try it herself as she attempts a task while she discovers the pros and cons, then we discuss what went wrong or right.

A great leader allows enough room for different pathways that will lead to success, but enough structure to guide people to where you want them to end up in a supportive, safe and encouraging environment for growth.

Do you have any tips or strategies for being a better leader or manager? What is your favorite leadership style?

Leave a comment below!

And you’re interested on more information about how I’ve lead the teams in my life to success – in both my home, and in every business I’ve built, check out my video training program, “Leadership by Design – 10 Ways to Create Championship Teams for Success in Every Area of Your Life” here.